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I love soccer but don't follow mls at all. However we are going to see more and more of this as big stars age. This cam be good for helping the game grow here. Stars want one more big payday before retiring and they can still be stars late in their careers.

I have always wondered this about MLS. Teams like DC United, Real Salt Lake.

Do they have any affiliation with the European teams Manchester United, Real Madrid? Or did they just incorporate the name because it sounds familiar to soccer fans?

No affiliation. Just name recognition. There are many teams in Spain with real preceding the city. Real means royal and the king at some point granted them the title. Real Madrid was Madrid FC for 30 years before the king granted them the title. Also there are many united teams. United is when taken when two teams become one.

I love soccer but don't follow mls at all. However we are going to see more and more of this as big stars age. This cam be good for helping the game grow here. Stars want one more big payday before retiring and they can still be stars late in their careers.

First let me admit that I am not a soccer guy...I actually kind of want to like soccer but between the timing issue (I don't want to have to do math to figure out how much time is left in the game, and oh wait you never really know when the game is going to end and how the clock can continue to run when the ball is in the stands), the rolling around on the ground seemingly every time anyone goes down (I get it, it hurts but rolling around on the ground isn't gonna make it stop hurting...if you aren't bleeding and nothing is broken get up), and all the time that the ball is in play but there is little to no attacking happening (drives me crazy in basketball as well, but the shot clock limits how much that can happen) keeps me from being a soccer fan.

I basically can only watch soccer every 4 years, much like many in Olympic sports I like to see the US do well but I could really care less other wise.

Now that all of that is out of the way I question moves such as this for the MLS from a stand point of building the league. While it certainly brings more name recognition to the league and (I assume) upgrades the talent in the league is it the best way to spend the team/league resources? Again I am not a soccer guy but I'm guessing these guys are past their prime years and would assume that they are being paid more to come and play in the MLS than they would make in Europe. Instead of over paying for players not in their prime wouldn't it make more sense to use the limited (compared to European teams or to the other major sports in the US) resources available to the league to either try and bring in players who are in their prime (although admittedly this may be a tough sell to try and get players in their prime to come and play lesser competition) or to spend that money developing US (or other North American) players. The second option (to me) would lead to better long term growth for the league and US soccer in general (better performing US teams would likely increase the number of soccer fans in the US).

First let me admit that I am not a soccer guy...I actually kind of want to like soccer but between the timing issue (I don't want to have to do math to figure out how much time is left in the game, and oh wait you never really know when the game is going to end and how the clock can continue to run when the ball is in the stands), the rolling around on the ground seemingly every time anyone goes down (I get it, it hurts but rolling around on the ground isn't gonna make it stop hurting...if you aren't bleeding and nothing is broken get up), and all the time that the ball is in play but there is little to no attacking happening (drives me crazy in basketball as well, but the shot clock limits how much that can happen) keeps me from being a soccer fan.

I basically can only watch soccer every 4 years, much like many in Olympic sports I like to see the US do well but I could really care less other wise.

Now that all of that is out of the way I question moves such as this for the MLS from a stand point of building the league. While it certainly brings more name recognition to the league and (I assume) upgrades the talent in the league is it the best way to spend the team/league resources? Again I am not a soccer guy but I'm guessing these guys are past their prime years and would assume that they are being paid more to come and play in the MLS than they would make in Europe. Instead of over paying for players not in their prime wouldn't it make more sense to use the limited (compared to European teams or to the other major sports in the US) resources available to the league to either try and bring in players who are in their prime (although admittedly this may be a tough sell to try and get players in their prime to come and play lesser competition) or to spend that money developing US (or other North American) players. The second option (to me) would lead to better long term growth for the league and US soccer in general (better performing US teams would likely increase the number of soccer fans in the US).

It is still a business and these players are marketting tools.

Plenty of money is going into development, we just have to wait about 10 more years to be at the level we want.

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Teach a kid how to read and he will read, teach a kid how to shoot and he will shoot...

Now that all of that is out of the way I question moves such as this for the MLS from a stand point of building the league. While it certainly brings more name recognition to the league and (I assume) upgrades the talent in the league is it the best way to spend the team/league resources? Again I am not a soccer guy but I'm guessing these guys are past their prime years and would assume that they are being paid more to come and play in the MLS than they would make in Europe. Instead of over paying for players not in their prime wouldn't it make more sense to use the limited (compared to European teams or to the other major sports in the US) resources available to the league to either try and bring in players who are in their prime (although admittedly this may be a tough sell to try and get players in their prime to come and play lesser competition) or to spend that money developing US (or other North American) players. The second option (to me) would lead to better long term growth for the league and US soccer in general (better performing US teams would likely increase the number of soccer fans in the US).

Beckham coming here was huge. These others coming here will be just as big.

Not only is it a draw for longtime fans, but think of it as a world-class trainer you're bringing in.

The experience, ability, and technical understanding these guys can provide your younger guys.

Well I gave the mls my once every four years after the World Cup try today. The level of competition compared to what I have been watching in the World Cup was still unwatchable. I watched till halftime and that was about all I could take.

The problem is the stars are past their prime when the come to MLS. Also MLS needs a "home grow" star to really attact fans. Altiode or Yeadlin could start to attact fans, but they are/going to play over seas.

Just my 2 cents.

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"We played the State Championship in a place called Death Valley," he said. "I looked up in the fourth quarter and the only ones still alive were the Gamecocks."--SOS

The problem is the stars are past their prime when the come to MLS. Also MLS needs a "home grow" star to really attact fans. Altiode or Yeadlin could start to attact fans, but they are/going to play over seas.

Just my 2 cents.

Altidore is already playing in England.

Yedlin does play for the Sounders right now and I don't believe any European teams have expressed interest in him.

I'm surprised that we don't have more push from the networks about the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Pitting our nation against other nations might actually drum up a little excitement. Would be surprised if we don't hear a little bit about it this year.

Side note: If Beckham can ever get the Miami squad up and running, that will give the league a boost.